The Imperfections Of Fate

Epilogue

I resurface from the water, shaking my hair, droplets flying everywhere. The refreshing cold is exhilarating. I wave my arms back and forth through the silky liquid, raising my head to peer over at the shore. My pants and t-shirt are splayed out across the closest rock, now soaked from my dive into the water.

It is getting dark, but I still can't bring myself to make my way back to camp Thunderstone. I know my father, Vadiem, will be waiting to scold me on going back to the water hole. 'It's too far,' he says. But he doesn't understand, that is exactly why I come here. To get away from all his politics and schemes.

If I am to be immortal, then at least can I have this one luxury? Just this one?

I growl, swimming over to pull myself up onto the nearest rock. Sitting there, I let my feet dangle in the crystal water, feel it sluicing down my skin and over the ridges of my abdomen.

Everything is so unfair. I'm the son of a chieftain but am treated even lower than his subjects. Recently I've felt like my life has lost its purpose, but I can't figure out what it was. It's as if there's a gaping hole in my heart, where a piece of my life used to be. I've been coming to this water hole more than usual lately, trying to find some sort of relief. But it never works.

At the thought, my hands ball into fists, and I stand up, walking over to snatch my clothes off the boulder next to me. Pulling my shirt over my head and stepping into my pants, I turn back to survey the beautiful sanctuary once more. Tomorrow, I will likely not be allowed to come back.

An unexpected rustling sound comes from behind me. I tense, waiting for the noise to come again. It does, and I swing around the face the looming forest. A twig snaps and dead leaves crunch underfoot.

I freeze, raising my fists before me, ready for a fight.

But the person that emerges is not carrying a weapon or lunging at me to attack. No, the person that steps out from behind a tree trunk, is a girl.

She is beautiful, her long black hair lying straight down her back. I know instantly that she is a human, and around the same age as me. I gape, open-mouthed as she nears, smiling from ear to ear. Something is incredibly familiar about her. Like I've dreamed of this girl. But I've never met her in my life.

My muscles unclench as she steps up onto my boulder, her body invading my personal space. But I don't care. It doesn't matter. Because as I meet her dark gaze, all I want to do is lean in and kiss her.

" I thought I'd find you here," She smiles, reaching up to caress the side of my face, " Damien..."

My eyes close against their will. This must be a dream. This girl can't be real. But I know with all certainty, she has come for me.

She is my destiny.

The End